Cloning and overproduction of the rpoZ gene encoding an RNA polymerase omega subunit from a deep-sea piezophilic Shewanella violacea strain DSS12.

We have cloned the rpoZ gene, encoding RNA polymerase omega protein, by PCR approach from the deep-sea piezophilic and psychrophilic bacterium, Shewanella violacea strain DSS12. The cloned gene, 285bp in length, was found to encode a protein consisting of 94 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 10,327 Da. Significant homology was evident comparing the RpoZ protein of S. violacea with that of Shewanella oneidensis (69% identity), Vibrio cholerae (65% identity), Escherichia coli K-12 (64% identity) and Haemophilus influenzae (61% identity). From the Northern blot analysis, S. violacea rpoZ gene was expressed constitutively under pressure conditions of 0.1, 30 and 50MPa. We constructed expression plasmid to overproduce the RpoZ protein and transformed into E. coli JM109 as a host of overproduction. Upon induction, the recombinant protein encoded by plasmid pQrpoZ was overexpressed and purified using Ni2+ affinity column.     

Piezoresponse of the cyo-operon coding for quinol oxidase subunits in a deep-sea piezophilic bacterium, Shewanella violacea

We have isolated the genes for quinol oxidase from a deep-sea piezophilic bacterium, Shewanella violacea. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of the cyo subunits showed that this oxidase has high similarity to Escherichia coli bo-type quinol oxidase. Northern blot analysis showed that these genes are expressed at a high level when the bacterium is grown at elevated pressure. Upstream in the cyo-operon, a sigma54-binding motif and an octamer sequence unit were found, suggesting that these elements may play a role in regulation of expression of the cyo-operon in response to changes in pressure.     

Piezoresponse of the cyo-Operon Coding for Quinol Oxidase Subunits in a Deep-sea Piezophilic Bacterium,Shewanella violacea

We have isolated the genes for quinol oxidase from a deep-sea piezophilic bacterium, Shewanella violacea. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of the cyo subunits showed that this oxidase has high similarity to Escherichia coli bo-type quinol oxidase. Northern blot analysis showed that these genes are expressed at a high level when the bacterium is grown at elevated pressure. Upstream in the cyo-operon, a σ⁵⁴-binding motif and an octamer sequence unit were found, suggesting that these elements may play a role in regulation of expression of the cyo-operon in response to changes in pressure.     

Pressure response in deep-sea piezophilic bacteria

Several piezophilic bacteria have been isolated from deep-sea environments under high hydrostatic pressure. Taxonomic studies of the isolates showed that the piezophilic bacteria are not widely distributed in terms of taxonomic positions, and all were assigned to particular branches of the Proteobacteria gamma-subgroup. A pressure-regulated operon from piezophilic bacteria of the genus Shewanella, S. benthica and S. violacea, was cloned and sequenced, and downstream of this operon another pressure regulated operon, cydD-C, was found. The cydD gene was found to be essential for the bacterial growth under high-pressure conditions, and the product of this gene was found to play a role in their respiratory system. Results obtained later indicated that the respiratory system in piezophilic bacteria may be important for survival in a high-pressure environment, and more studies focusing on other components of the respiratory chain have been conducted. These studies suggested that piezophilic bacteria are capable of changing their respiratory system in response to pressure conditions, and a proposed respiratory chain model has been suggested in this regard.     

Effects of pressure on cell morphology and cell division of lactic acid bacteria

The effect of pressure and temperature on the growth of the mesophilic lactic acid bacteria Lactococcus lactis and Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis was studied. Both strains were piezosensitive. Lb. sanfranciscensis failed to grow at 50 MPa and the growth rate of Lc. lactis at 50 MPa was less than 30% of that at atmospheric pressure. An increase of growth temperature did not improve the piezotolerance of either organism. During growth under high-pressure conditions, the cell morphology was changed, and the cells were elongated as cell division was inhibited. At atmospheric pressure, temperatures above the optimal temperature for growth caused a similar effect on cell morphology and cell division in both bacteria as that observed under high-pressure conditions. The segregation and condensation of chromosomal DNA were observed by DAPI staining and occurred normally at high-pressure conditions independent of changes in cell morphology. Immunofluorescence microscopy of Lc. lactis cells demonstrated an inhibitory effect of high pressure on the formation of the FtsZ ring and this inhibition of the FtsZ ring formation is suggested to contribute to the altered cell morphology and growth inhibition induced by high pressure.Communicated by K. Horikoshi     

钝顶螺旋藻FtsZ在大肠杆菌中的表达和定位

FtsZ是与真核微管蛋白类似的原核骨架蛋白,能在细胞分裂位点聚合组装成环状结构而调控细胞分裂过程。为了研究钝顶螺旋藻（Spirulina platensis）FtsZ蛋白的功能,构建了钝顶螺旋藻FtsZ与绿色荧光蛋白GFP融合表达的质粒,并在大肠杆菌中进行了表达和定位研究,结果发现,表达融合蛋白GFP-FtsZ的大肠杆菌细胞由短杆状变为长丝状,且菌丝体长度与融合蛋白的表达量呈正比。在荧光显微镜下观察到融合蛋白GFP-FtsZ在长丝状体细菌中呈有规律的点状分布,这说明FtsZ蛋白功能高度保守,钝顶螺旋藻FtsZ蛋白能识别大肠杆菌分裂位点并装配成环状结构调控大肠杆菌细胞分裂,FtsZ蛋白的过量表达能抑制大肠杆菌正常的细胞分裂而导致长丝状体细胞的形成。     

Reconstitution and characterization of NtrC protein in a deep-sea piezophilic bacterium, Shewanella violacea strain DSS12

NtrC protein of piezophilic Shewanella violacea was overexpressed and purified, to confirm the protein-DNA interaction. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated that the NtrC recognizes the sequence for NtrC binding within the region upstream of the glnA operon. Western blot analysis also showed that the NtrC is expressed at a higher level under high-pressure conditions than under atmospheric pressure conditions.     

Differences in malate dehydrogenases from the obligately piezophilic deep-sea bacterium Moritella sp. strain 2D2 and the psychrophilic bacterium Moritella sp. strain 5710

The gene encoding malate dehydrogenase (MDH) of the obligately piezophilic deep-sea bacterium Moritella sp. strain 2D2 was cloned and sequenced. There were two positions [close to the active site (Ala-180) and in the subunit interaction site (His-229)] with 2D2-specific substitutions. The MDH genes of strain 2D2 and a psychrophilic bacterium Moritella sp. strain 5710 exhibiting the highest sequence similarity were overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The 2D2 MDH was more heat-stable than the 5710 MDH. The apparent Km value at 62.1 MPa for NADH of the 2D2 MDH was higher than that of the 5710 MDH. The 2D2 MDH in which a His-Gln substitution was introduced at position 229 decreased the thermal stability and Km value at 62.1 MPa. The 5710 MDH that was substituted Gln-229 with His increased the thermal stability and Km value at 62.1 MPa. These results indicate that the His residue at position 229 of the 2D2 MDH may play a role in the thermal stability and the MDH function at high pressure.     

SulA-independent filamentation of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Escherichia coli</Emphasis> during growth after release from high hydrostatic pressure treatment

To improve the efficiency of sterilization by high hydrostatic pressure treatment (HPT), it is desirable to know the biochemical process of bacteria most sensitive to the treatment. We investigated growth properties after release from HPT of exponentially growing Escherichia coli K-12 cells. We observed growth retardation after treatment (30 min at 37°C) above 75 MPa. Long filamentous cells of about eight times normal cell length were observed at 90 min growth after treatment at 75 MPa. In the subsequent period the filamentous cells divided into normal-sized cells. recA and sulA mutant strains also formed filamentous cells, indicating that filamentation was SulA-independent. Nucleoids segregated normally in the filamentous cells. Only one FtsZ ring (or none) was detected at possible division sites in the elongated cells. Western blotting analysis demonstrated that the amount of FtsZ protein was not affected by the treatment. GTP-dependent in vitro polymerization of either FtsZ protein in E. coli crude extract or purified FtsZ protein, however, was sensitive to HPT. These facts suggest that HPT at 75 MPa denatures a fraction of FtsZ molecules, and that these denatured molecules interfere with the polymerization of functional FtsZ, resulting in the significantly reduced number of FtsZ rings.     

FtsZ在钝顶螺旋藻形态建成中的作用

为了研究细胞骨架蛋白FtsZ在螺旋藻形态建成中的作用,通过PCR克隆了ftsZ基因并进行原核表达,对表达的融合蛋白进行了纯化。通过免疫小鼠制备了FtsZ的多克隆抗体。分别用Western blot和免疫荧光技术检测螺旋藻不同形态藻丝体中ftsZ的表达和定位。结果表明,在两株不同螺旋藻Spirulina platensisFACHB869和FACHB882中,ftsZ在直线形藻丝体中的表达量都高于螺旋形藻丝体。免疫荧光定位结果显示,FtsZ蛋白在藻细胞中呈环状分布于细胞膜上,且这种环状结构在直线形藻丝体中排列较密而在螺旋形藻丝体中排列疏松。ftsZ在不同形态藻丝体中的表达量和细胞定位差异说明,细胞骨架蛋白FtsZ可能通过改变细胞刚性而参与螺旋藻形态建成。     

Analysis of cell division gene ftsZ (sulB) from gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.

The ftsZ (sulB) gene of Escherichia coli codes for a 40,000-dalton protein that carries out a key step in the cell division pathway. The presence of an ftsZ gene protein in other bacterial species was examined by a combination of Southern blot and Western blot analyses. Southern blot analysis of genomic restriction digests revealed that many bacteria, including species from six members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Agrobacterium tumefaciens, contained sequences which hybridized with an E. coli ftsZ probe. Genomic DNA from more distantly related bacteria, including Bacillus subtilis, Branhamella catarrhalis, Micrococcus luteus, and Staphylococcus aureus, did not hybridize under minimally stringent conditions. Western blot analysis, with anti-E. coli FtsZ antiserum, revealed that all bacterial species examined contained a major immunoreactive band. Several of the Enterobacteriaceae were transformed with a multicopy plasmid encoding the E. coli ftsZ gene. These transformed strains, Shigella sonnei, Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter aerogenes, were shown to overproduce the FtsZ protein and to produce minicells. Analysis of [35S]methionine-labeled minicells revealed that the plasmid-encoded gene products were the major labeled species. This demonstrated that the E. coli ftsZ gene could function in other bacterial species to induce minicells and that these minicells could be used to analyze plasmid-endoced gene products.     

A denitrifying bacterium from the deep sea at 11 000-m depth

The denitrifying bacterium strain MT-1 was isolated from the mud of the Mariana Trench. The optimal temperature and pressure for growth of this bacterium were found to be 30°C and 0.1 MPa, respectively. However, it showed greater tolerance to low temperature (4°C) and high hydrostatic pressure (50 MPa) as compared with denitrifiers obtained from land. From the results, it can be said that this organism is adapted to the environment of the deep sea. Strain MT-1 was shown to belong to the genus Pseudomonas by analysis of its 16S rDNA. The cytochrome contents of the bacterium were similar to those of Ps. stutzeri in spectrophotometric studies. Received: June 2, 1997 / Accepted: August 9, 1997     

The 75-kilodalton antigen of Bartonella bacilliformis is a structural homolog of the cell division protein FtsZ.

A genomic library of Bartonella bacilliformis was constructed and screened with human anti-Bartonella serum from a patient with the chronic, verruga peruana phase of bartonellosis. An immunoreactive clone isolated from this library was found to code for a 591-amino-acid protein with a high degree of sequence similarity to the FtsZ family of proteins. The degree of amino acid identity between the B. bacilliformis protein (FtsZ[Bb]) and the other FtsZ proteins is especially pronounced over the N-terminal 321 amino acids (N-terminal domain) of the sequence, with values ranging from 45% identity for the homolog from Micrococcus luteus (FtsZ[Ml]) to 91% identity for the homolog from Rhizobium melliloti, (FtsZ[Rm1]). All of the functional domains required for FtsZ activity are conserved in FtsZ(Bb) and are located within the N-terminal domain of the protein. FtsZ(Bb) is approximately twice as large as most of the other FtsZ proteins previously reported, a property it shares with FtsZ(Rm1). Like the Rhizobium homolog, FtsZ(Bb) has a C-terminal region of approximately 256 amino acids that is absent in the other FtsZ proteins. Evidence is presented that implicates this region in the protein's antigenicity and suggests that, unlike most other FtsZ homologs, FtsZ(Bb) is at least partly exposed at the cell surface. PCR analysis revealed that an ftsZ gene similar in size to the B. bacilliformis gene is present in Bartonella henselae, a bacterium that is closely related to B. bacilliformis.     

Characterization of the Porphyromonas gingivalis FtsZ Containing a Novel GTPase Activity

The FtsZ protein is a GTPase that is essential for cell division. We have cloned, sequenced, and expressed the FtsZ (PgFtsZ) gene from the Porphyromonas gingivalis, an oral, anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium implicated in progressive periodontal disease. The PgFtsZ gene consisted of 1374 bp and coded for an acidic protein with a calculated molecular mass of 50,253 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibited a significant homology with E. coli FtsZ (54% identical residues). Like other prokaryotic FtsZs, PgFtsZ possessed the clear motifs for GTP binding (GGGTGTG) and hydrolysis (NLDFADV). When PgFtsZ was overexpressed in E. coli, cell division was inhibited. Recombinant PgFtsZ was purified to homogeneity and characterized. The purified PgFtsZ exhibited GTPase activity even in the absence of Mg²⁺, and completely retained its activity with EDTA. Furthermore, Na⁺ and K⁺ ions inhibited its GTPase activity in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that PgFtsZ contains an atypical GTPase activity that has not been previously described. Received: 25 May 2001 / Accepted: 8 August 2001